Fox Fires Three Celebs in TV Schedule Bloodbath

Bad news for Jennifer Beals, Tim Roth, and Christian Slater, because Fox has been doing some major housecleaning lately. The network has cancelled five current series to make room for a new fall lineup, and the list of axed shows may surprise you.

The Chicago Code, Lie to Me, Traffic Light, Human Target, and Breaking Inwill not be returning in the fall, despite decent viewing numbers. The problem is that while the shows had fans, none of the shows were the enormous ratings hits the network's looking for.

For an actor-turned-TV-star, it's surely a bummer to have your show canceled because people can't be bothered to set their TiVo. I confess, I never saw any of these series, except for the first season of Lie to Me.

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The Chicago Code, starring onetime Flashdance droopy-sweatshirt-wearing actress Jennifer Beals, had collected a number of positive reviews when it debuted last year. So much for the buzz around her comeback. And poor Christian Slater with Breaking In—he used to be one of my very favorite actors, but he's had a bad run lately, hasn't he?

Well, out with the old, and in with the new—here's the list of what Fox will be premiering in the fall:

Alcatraz. From J.J. Abrams and Warner Bros. TV, Alcatraz is a sort of time-travel crime drama revolving around a team investigating the reappearance of 20 wardens and prisoners of Alcatraz in modern day, after their mysterious disappearance 50 years ago. Hmmm, I think you had me at J.J. Abrams.

The Finder. This one's a Bones spin-off focused on a military-trained "finder" (Geoff Stults) who helps locate lost items or people in the Florida Keys. Meh.

The New Girl. A Zooey Deschanel comedy about a quirky female teacher who becomes roommates with three guys: a man-child, a player, and a cynic. Oh god. WHY, Zooey Deschanel, WHY? (PS: Has anyone ever seen Zooey Deschanel and Katy Perry in the same room together? Just saying.)

I Hate My Teenage Daughter. Starring Jaime Pressly, this sitcom centers on two women who have daughters like the girls who once picked on them in high school. Ohhhh, now I REALLY feel bad for Beals, Roth, and Slater—your shows got cancelled to make room for this?

What's your take on the schedule revamp? Are you bummed about the cancellations, or looking forward to the new shows?